Take a walk down memory lane today and teach your child about a time — not so long ago — when mail wasn’t electronic. It’s true… before there was such a thing as “e-mail,” there was something known simply as “mail.” So why not teach your child about the story and the joy of written communication — [...]

Our family looks forward to Christmas all year long. It’s our favorite holiday. In fact, my kids have been writing letters to Santa since December 26th of last year. While their writing and picture-drawing skills have improved immensely over the past 11 months, I’ve realized that I’ve neglected to show them the correct way to [...]

What’s better than a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly winter day? And, did you know? There are so many great (and secretly educational) activities you can do with marshmallows! Here are some ideas: * If you have 3 marshmallows and someone gives you 3 more, how many do you have? * [...]

This classic-toy gift guide is brought to you by Melissa & Doug, written by our Blog Ambassador Zina Harrington. Make everyday activities an adventure! — Zina . . . Today I am honored to share with you a few of my favorite Melissa & Doug toys. In a world filled with gizmos, gadgets, and screens, [...]

As children are busy creating their Wish Lists this time of year, it’s important to point out that the holidays are about both GIVING and receiving. Little ones can benefit by your family’s actions and examples of big concepts like charity, compassion, generosity, and goodwill. Read on for story, activity, and craft ideas to help [...]

Puzzled by which puzzle is right for your kids? This easy reference guide walks you through the options – including chunky shapes and boards, sturdy wooden jigsaws, giant floor puzzles, and more! Use it to find just the right fit for puzzlers of every age and stage. You can find our Puzzle Guide by clicking [...]

If you loved building blocks as a kid, you probably want to pass on the joy of playing with blocks to a child you know. Our new Building Blocks Infographic is the perfect tool to help you decide which blocks are right for that special child on your list. Plus, we’ve included play tips for every age in our handy guide; [...]

This blog post is provided by special Guest Blogger Julie Kieras from HappyStrongHome.com. So my children DIDN’T end up magically loving to share their toys and spend every second together. Hmm… so strange! I thought I could escape the sibling rivalry phase! But no, like most baby/preschool sibling sets, once the baby became mobile, squabbles over [...]

This play-focused, build those super-important foundational skills idea is brought to you by Melissa & Doug, written by our Blog Ambassador Amy Mascott. For many parents, Daylight Saving Time is a totally uninvited, unwelcome guest. With a simple flick of the clock hands, we magically “spring” forward or “fall” back. And our children’s fragile sleep [...]